Role of yeast cell wall polysaccharides in pig nutrition and health protection

et al. 2013

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of algal and yeast b-glucans on the porcine gastrointestinal microbiota, specifically the community of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and coliforms. A total of 48 pigs were fed four diets over a 28-day period to determine the effect that each had on these communities. The control diet consisted of wheat and soya bean meal. The remaining three diets contained wheat and soya bean meal supplemented with b-glucan at 250 g/tonne from Laminaria digitata, Laminaria hyperborea or Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Faecal samples were collected from animals before feeding each diet and after the feeding period. The animals were slaughtered the following day and samples were collected from the stomach, ileum, caecum, proximal colon and distal colon. Alterations in Lactobacillus in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) were analysed using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) profiles generated by group-specific 16S rRNA gene PCR amplicons. Plate count analysis was also performed to quantify total coliforms. DGGE profiles indicated that all b-glucan diets provoked the emergence of a richer community of Lactobacillus. The richest community of lactobacilli emerged after feeding L. digitata (LD b-glucan). Plate count analysis revealed that the L. hyperborea (LH b-glucan) diet had a statistically significant effect on the coliform counts in the proximal colon in comparison with the control diet. b-glucan from L. digitata and S. cerevisiae also generally reduced coliforms but to a lesser extent. Nevertheless, the b-glucan diets did not significantly reduce levels of Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium. DGGE analysis of GIT samples indicated that the three b-glucan diets generally promoted the establishment of a more varied range of Lactobacillus species in the caecum, proximal and distal colon. The LH b-glucan had the most profound reducing effect on coliform counts when compared with the control diet and diets supplemented with L. digitata and S. cerevisiae b-glucans.Keywords: b-glucans, pigs, algae, yeast, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis ImplicationsAdministration of antibiotics to animals has come under intense scrutiny because of their contribution to the dissemination of antibiotic-resistant bacteria into the food chain. Algal and yeast b-glucans are biologically active resources from nature. With respect to animal production, an important goal is to determine the optimal microbiota for the animal and then be able to manipulate the microbiota through the diet, supplements, etc. to obtain the desired microbiota. b-glucans derived from macroalgae and yeast aid in gut health during periods of intestinal imbalance, leading to the alteration in the microbial community composition and hence offering an easily accessible alternative to antibiotics. This paper focuses on the use of a molecular and a cultivation-based method to monitor fluctuations in the gastrointestinal microbiota caused by algal and yeast b-glucan supplementation of the pig diet. Molecular analysis of the Lactobaci...

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of bacterial community shifts in the gastrointestinal tract of pigs fed diets supplemented with β-glucan from Laminaria digitata, Laminaria hyperborea and Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Murphy

Bello

et al. 2013

“…These authors Laminarin and fucoidan in piglet diets found that the inclusion of laminarin in the diet resulted in a reduced Enterobacteria population in the gut of the pig. Similarly, Kogan and Kocher (2007) showed how b-glucans from a specific yeast cell wall supplied in feed are able to block fimbriae of pathogenic bacteria, and prevent their adhesion to the mucous epithelium; adhesion is the first step of microbial infection. Rice et al (2006) reported that once laminarin is ingested, it is transported from the gastrointestinal tract to the circulation system, which produce significant immunomodulatory effects and increase survival rates in mice challenged with Staphylococcus aureus or Candida albicans.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of dietary laminarin and fucoidan in the diet of the weanling piglet on performance, selected faecal microbial populations and volatile fatty acid concentrations

McDonnell

Figat

2010

104

A 2 3 2 factorial experiment (n 5 12 replicates per treatment, 4 pigs per replicate) was performed to investigate the effects of seaweed extracts, laminarin (derived ß-glucans) and fucoidan (sulphated polysaccharides), independently or in combination on post-weaning piglet performance and selected microbial populations. At weaning, the piglets (24 days of age, 6.4 kg live weight) were assigned to one of the four dietary treatments: (T1) basal diet, (T2) basal diet with 300 p.p.m. laminarin, (T3) basal diet with 240 p.p.m. fucoidan, (T4) basal diet with 300 p.p.m. laminarin and 240 p.p.m. fucoidan. Pigs offered diets supplemented with laminarin had an increased daily gain ( P , 0.01), and gain-to-feed ratio ( P , 0.05) compared to pigs offered diets without laminarin supplementation during the experimental period (days 0 to 21). Pigs offered laminarinsupplemented diets had an increased faecal dry matter and reduced diarrhoea ( P , 0.05) during the critical 7 to 14 day period. Pigs offered diets containing laminarin had reduced faecal Escherichia coli populations. There was a significant interaction ( P , 0.01) on faecal Lactobacilli populations between laminarin and fucoidan. Pigs offered the fucoidan diet had an increased Lactobacilli population compared to pigs offered the basal diet. However, there was no effect of fucoidan on faecal Lactobacilli populations when laminarin was added. Overall, the reduction in E. coli population and the increase in daily gain suggest that laminarin may provide a dietary means to improve gut health after weaning.

“…Secondly, the non-selective reduction in the microbial populations may be due to the agglutination properties of the extract. Yeast-derived b-glucans, which have a similar structure to algal b-glucan, have the ability to agglutinate certain bacterial species, which in turn would inhibit their attachment to epithelial cells, thus preventing them from colonising the mucosal surface (Mirelman et al, 1980;Kogan and Kocher, 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of seaweed extract inclusion on gut morphology, selected intestinal microbiota, nutrient digestibility, volatile fatty acid concentrations and the immune status of the weaned pig

Reilly

Pierce

et al. 2008

126

105

An experiment (complete randomised design) was conducted to investigate the effects of Laminaria hyperborea and Laminaria digitata seaweed extract inclusion on gut morphology, selected intestinal microbiota populations, volatile fatty acid concentrations and the immune status of the weaned pig. Twenty-eight piglets (24 days of age, 6.5 6 1.4 kg live weight) were assigned to one of four dietary treatments for 7 days and then sacrificed: (T1) basal diet (control); (T2) basal diet and 1.5 g/kg L. hyperborea seaweed extract; (T3) basal diet and 1.5 g/kg L. digitata seaweed extract; and (T4) basal diet and 1.5 g/kg of a combination of L. hyperborea and L. digitata seaweed extract. The seaweed extract contained both laminarin and fucoidan. Digesta samples were taken from the caecum and colon to measure the enterobacteria, bifidobacteria and lactobacilli populations and for volatile fatty acid analysis. Tissue samples were taken from the duodenum, jejunum and ileum for morphological examination. Blood samples were taken to determine the cytokine gene expression profile and to measure the phagocytotic capacity of the blood. Pigs offered diets containing L. hyperborea seaweed extract had less bifidobacteria in the colon (P , 0.05) and lactobacilli in the caecum (P , 0.05) and colon (P , 0.001). The inclusion of L. digitata seaweed extract resulted in lower populations of enterobacteria in the caecum and colon (P , 0.01), bifidobacteria in the caecum (P , 0.05), and lactobacilli in the caecum (P , 0.05) and colon (P , 0.001). Pigs offered the combination of L. hyperborea and L. digitata seaweed extracts had less enterobacteria (P , 0.05) and lactobacilli (P , 0.01) in the caecum and colon. Pigs offered the L. digitata-supplemented diet had a reduced villous height in the duodenum and jejunum (P , 0.05). The inclusion of the L. digitata seaweed extract increased the molar proportion of butyric acid in the colon (P , 0.05). There was a significant reduction in the ammonia concentration in the colon with the inclusion of L. hyperborea (P , 0.01) and L. digitata (P , 0.05) seaweed extracts. An increase in the expression of the Interleukin-8 mRNA was observed on day 6 with the supplementation of the combination of L. hyperborea and L. digitata seaweed extract (P , 0.05). The inclusion of L. hyperborea seaweed extract resulted in an increase in total monocyte number (P , 0.05). In conclusion, the supplementation of L. hyperborea and L. digitata seaweed extract alone and in combination reduced the enterobacteria, bifidobacteria and lactobacilli populations in the caecum and colon, while only marginal effects on the immune response was observed.